This is a guest post from Marie Nievesm a lifestyle blogger. All opinions are 100% hers. Almost ten years since it hit the market in 2008, Airbnb has become a staple for lodging services in the modern global society. Travelers, tourists, businessmen and women from all around the world are using Airbnb as a means to experience modern travel in a unique way from what was considered to be the norm, much to the chagrin of hotel chains.

If you are unfamiliar with how Airbnb works, and whether you should give this popular network a whirl, here are the pros and cons of Airbnb that will put your mind at ease and allow you to make the best possible decision in terms of money, accommodation, and experience. Let’s dig in.

Pro: a travel experience

Firstly, while Airbnb hosts a wide variety of demographic, it is important to note that it is primarily centered on travelers. But who is a traveler? A traveler can be anyone, and it can be a very unique persona, it all depends on the nature of your trip.

If you are a tourist, looking to experience the pampering that hotel chains offer, then Airbnb might not be the thing for you. However, if you are looking to imbue your mind, body and soul with different cultures, customs and the local way of life, then look no further.

Because you are staying in an apartment or a house, devoid of any management or room service (apart from what the host provides) you will be instantly thrown into the center of the local community, and their way of life. This is truly a unique experience, one which more and more people are opting for.

Con: non-professional hosting

Bear in mind that the majority of hosts are not professionals, as in they lack the training and experience of say a hotel manager. While there are extraordinary hosts on the platform with stellar reviews and recommendations, and while the quality of service is increasing across the board with each passing year, there is always a possibility that you will run into a host that is a bit unprofessional.

Fortunately though, unprofessional hosts are slowly becoming a thing of the past. Property management around the world, most notably the growing Airbnb property management in Sydney, has brought professionalism into private lodging that now rivals that of the finest hotels. With the rise of property management, travelers can rest assured that they will have an amazing stay.

Pro: cheaper than a hotel

Why do hotel chains twitch at the mention of Airbnb, you ask? Because not only does private accommodation offer freedom and a unique travel experience, it’s also cheaper than paying for a hotel room. This makes Airbnb an excellent choice for those traveling on a budget.

However, bear in mind that Airbnb hosts lodging options of every kind, from cheap rooms to luxurious houses, so there is something for everyone. If you have some extra cash to spend, you can definitely experience luxury on your travels using Airbnb.

Con: misleading photos

There is always a possibility that the accommodation is not the same as it was presented on the website, however, given the fact that Airbnb has strict rules and penalties for such cases, it’s less of an occurrence with each passing year. Be sure to communicate with the host and read all of the reviews before placing your reservation in order to avoid such situations.

Pro: your own place

Finally, the thing that is amazing about Airbnb and the thing that millions of people from around the world love, is the fact that you get to be in “your” own place, at least for the duration of your stay.

While hotel rooms are predominantly stale and mundane, often devoid of any personality or ambiance, private accommodation is usually rich in culture, personality, and has a unique flair. There is nothing quite like staying at a place that is meant to accommodate real people, as opposed to a hotel room with a bed and a minibar.

Airbnb is certainly not a platform without its quirks that need to be looked at, but it sure is a fun and inexpensive way to travel. Hopefully, these pros and cons gave you the information you need to make your next journey as pleasant and unforgettable as possible.

About the author

Marie Nieves is a lifestyle blogger who loves unusual trips, gadgets and creative ideas. On her travels she likes to read poetry and prose and surf the Internet. Her favourite writer is Tracy Chevalier and she always carries one of her books in her bag. She spends most of her free time at home walking her dog and talking about her experiences. You can find Marie onFacebook or follow her onTwitter and Pinterest.

This is a sponsored post. All opinions are mine. Have you been to Nashville? It is one of my favorite cities! We are big nerds who love popular show on the CW, Supernatural. Each year, the Supernatural Convention is in Nashville. We have been twice and are returning next April. There is so much to do and see in the Nashville area. There are plenty of places to stay, but SoBro Guest House is the coolest boutique hotel in Nashville!

If you are looking for a unique place to stay in Nashville, SoBro Guest House is it. SoBro Guest House is an apartment building converted into boutique hotel suites. It is so gorgeous. And what a clever and innovative idea! My family and I stayed in the Jack King Suite on the 1st Floor. These suites are like staying in your own apartment. The crew that designed and decorated the suites at SoBro Guest House have impeccable taste. Here are ten reasons you should stay at SoBro Guest House:

With convenience to Downtown and minutes from Nissan Stadium (where the Tennessee Titans play), there is entertainment and places to see right around the corner.

Sobro Guest House offers complimentary housekeeping from 8-5. A vacation out of town wouldn’t be a vacation if you had to keep the space tidy right?

You can choose a room with a tub-shower combo or stand-alone shower. I don’t know about you, but I love to take a bubble bath and relax when I am away.

All of these suites are a roomy 460 square feet. Each comes with one private bedroom, separate living room, modern bath and a full kitchen. Everything that you need to entertain and relax while you are in town is in your suite.

SoBro Guest House offers a dry cleaning service through doorstepdrycleaning.com. You just download their app to your phone and schedule a pick-up.

The grocery service at SoBro Guest House is a huge advantage. I love knowing the staff at SoBro Guest House can stock my fridge and pantry while I am there. Giving them 24 hour notice, you send them an email with a list of the items you want. They do the shopping and will deliver your items right to your door!

Something I had not heard of before was a TEXT CONCIERGE service. There is no front desk! You get an email the day of your check in. It walks you through the mobile check in service. When your room is ready, you get a second email with your room number and unique door code. You will also get a daily text with the weather for the day and suggestions for what to do in the area.

If entertaining is why you in Nashville, your suite at SoBro Guest House is perfect. There is a 48” LED television in the living are and the bedroom. You can play music on the retro record player and Bluetooth speakers. Each suite offers several vinyls to set the musical atmosphere.

There is a full kitchen in each suite. You can cook while you are staying at SoBro Guest House. This saves you money to spend on the attractions around town!

When you get into town, if you need somewhere to store your luggage before your 4 pm check in, no problem! Sobro Guest House will make arrangements with you! How many times have you felt like seeing the sights before you checked in and had no idea what to do with your bags?

One of the issues we have when we travel is Henry’s autism. He does not like to leave home. He prefers the safety and solitude of his room. So, when we are choosing a hotel, it must have the feeling of being at home. From the moment we walked into our Jack King Suite at SoBro Guest House, Henry felt at home. What a relief! He set up his Xbox and enjoyed playing with the large screen TV in the living area. He said the pull out bed was as comfortable as his bed at home!

Caitlin and I stayed in the spacious bedroom in the King Jack Suite. It was plenty big enough for both of us. The king size bed was the most comfortable I have slept on. I struggle with insomnia. A lumpy hotel bed does not help. In the Sobro Guest House, I slept like a baby! The closet offered enough space for us to each hang our clothes. The desk was perfect to get some work done. Caitlin enjoyed lounging in the bed and watching Supernatural on the 48″ TV.

One of my pet peeves about staying in a hotel is trying to connect to the WiFi. You have to call the front desk, get the password and try and connect on your computer. Another annoyance for me is parking. The last hotel we stayed in charged $32 per night to park. Really?! That is a nice lunch for my family! At SoBro Guest House, your parking pass, you park for free in their parking area. Did I mention parking was FREE?! Nice! All this information and more is located in a card box in the living area. It is filled with information on the hotel and the Nashville area. So convenient.

With so many fun amenities and things to do in the surrounding area, SoBro Guest House is seriously the best place for your money. Starting at $239, you can’t beat that for everything that you get while you are there. You’re on vacation and enjoying yourself and even though there is no typical front desk experience for you, the rest of it that they offer will blow your mind! be sure to stay connected with SoBro Guest House on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Have you ever been to Nashville? If so, what do you love about it? Have you heard of Sobro Guest House? What unique feature about it makes you want to visit?

This is a sponsored post. I was given compensation, either monetary or in product. However, this does not sway my opinion about this outstanding hotel at all. Can anyone relate to being displaced from their hometown to live in another? I grew up in Atlanta and absolutely loved it. There is just so much to see and do, the possibilities are endless. We moved to Knoxville, TN over a decade ago to be close to my mother who was in ill health. With my oldest daughter still liking there, we get back to visit as often as we can.

A Hotel That Feels Like Home!

On our latest visit to Atlanta, we found our way to Midtown Atlanta, where we stayed at the Homewood Suites by Hilton Atlanta Midtown. I cannot compliment this little nugget more! With two teens in tow, it is not always easy to find a family friendly place to stay. However, at the Homewood Suites, we found a hotel that can be as homey as a hotel can be!

Conveniently located just 12 miles from the airport, Homewood Suites surprised us with its charm immediately upon walking into the hotel. With modern decor, friendly staff, and ease of check-in – Homewood Suites started off our weekend fantastic. It wasn’t long before we began to realize that we were going to be able to enjoy all this hotel has to offer.

Henry enjoying the view from the bedroom area (Photo Credit: Kicking it with Kelly)

We were fortunate enough to have a queen size room, which was incredibly roomy for our family of four. Homewood Suites offers suites that range from studio – up to two bedrooms.

Our kitchen had everything we needed (Photo Credit: Kicking it with Kelly)

We were pleasantly surprised to find that our suite was fully equipped with a full-sized refrigerator, microwave, dishwasher, and a two burner stove. With plenty of room to cook and relax – this suite still managed to come with all the comforts of home with things like full-sized LCD television, complimentary internet access and two phones with voicemail features. And if cooking isn’t your thing, the hotel offers complimentary breakfast seven days a week to its guests.

Living Area of our Room (Photo Credit: Kicking it with Kelly)

A Hotel With So Much To Offer!

After dropping off our things, we decided it was time to head out and explore what else we could find within Homewood Suites. With a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence, we were pretty sure that the friendly staff would be able to help us find fun things to do in and around the hotel.

The fitness area had everything I needed to stay on track (Photo Credit: Kicking it with Kelly)

And we were right. As we strolled along the hallways of this magnificent hotel, it wasn’t long before the friendly staff asked if they could help us find something. I wanted to take a look at the gym, and our housekeeper was quick to point us in the right direction. We made our way to the fitness area that was well kept and fully loaded with everything you could need to stay in shape while either on your business trip or visiting with the family.

The beautiful pool was a favorite spot for the kids (Photo Credit: Homewood Suites website)

But the fun didn’t stop there. While continuing to explore the Homewood Suites, we eventually made our way to the court-side pool. After an early start and the stress from earlier within the week – this is exactly what my family and I needed to relax for a bit.

The Perfect Hotel For All Of Your Needs

The right side of the gorgeous lobby (Photo Credit: Kicking it with Kelly)

When we stay at hotels during our travels, I try to take in all that a hotel has to offer. When I am working, I love to relax in the lobby area. Here is where you can really feel the heartbeat of the hotel. If you prefer a more private place to work, Homewood Suiteshasn’t forgotten about business need either. Offering things like video phones, video conferencing capabilities, audio/visual equipment rental, on site notary public – and more in their business center.

The view of the Homewood Suites dining room (Photo Credit: Kicking it with Kelly)

And don’t forgot to head to the dining room for a bite to eat. Their menu has something for everyone! Because the Homewood Suites is located in Midtown Atlanta, it is close by to many of our favorite Atlanta attractions. If you are visiting with your family, I would highly recommend you take the Inside CNN Tour, which is only 2.1 miles away. Other popular locations are the Fox Theater, the Georgia Dome, Phillips Arena, Six Flags White Water, Woodruff Arts Center – and so much more.

Ready to stay with Homewood Suites by Hilton Atlanta Midtown ? They are located at 97th 10th St NW, Atlanta, GA 30309 and you can reach them at (404) 524-4076.

What do you find most appealing about Homewood Suites by Hilton Atlanta Midtown?